Mast device for a submarine

Abstract

The mast device for a submarine comprises a guiding means, a vertically traversable mast guided therein and information means which are provided at the mast upper end and which are in electrical interaction with the inside of the submarine for emitting and receiving information. The information means are arranged in a buoyant unit held on the mast upper end without connection to this. The buoyant unit is fastened to a flexible coupling means which may be let out and retracted and which is of the length essentially of the maximum desired observation depth of the submarine.

1. A mast device for a submarine, comprising guiding means, a vertically traversable mast guided thereon and information means which are provided at the mast upper end and which are in electrical interaction with the inside of the submarine for emitting and receiving information, wherein the information means are arranged in a buoyant unit held on the mast upper end without connection to said upper end of said mast and wherein the buoyant unit is fastened to flexible coupling means which may be let out and retracted and which is of a length essentially of the maximum desired observation depth of the submarine, wherein the mast upper end comprises a removable mast wall part for the simplified release and repositioning of the buoyant unit from and to the mast upper end. 
   
   
     2. The mast device according to  claim 1 , wherein the buoyant unit with the help of a seat formation in the upper region of the mast and with the help of the flexible coupling means is held secure in position in the region of the mast upper end. 
   
   
     3. The mast device according to  claim 1 , wherein the mast wall part is designed laterally pivotable. 
   
   
     4. The mast device according to  claim 1 , wherein the mast wall part is movable by way of a piston cylinder unit. 
   
   
     5. The mast device according to  claim 1 , wherein a winch is provided for letting out and again retracting the flexible coupling means. 
   
   
     6. The mast device according to  claim 5 , wherein the winch is provided in the mast or outside the guiding means of the mast. 
   
   
     7. The mast according to  claim 1 , wherein the buoyant unit comprises an elongated float body standing vertically in the floating condition. 
   
   
     8. The mast unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the elongated float body of the buoyant unit is designed hydrodynamically. 
   
   
     9. The mast device according to  claim 1 , wherein there is provided a cut-off means for the flexible coupling means. 
   
   
     10. The mast device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible coupling means in its section bordering the buoyant unit is provided with at least one buoyancy means for stabilising the vertical position of said buoyant unit when said buoyant unit is floating and said submarine is travelling. 
   
   
     11. The mast device according to  claim 10 , wherein said at least one buoyancy means consists of a hollow body or a buoyant solid body. 
   
   
     12. The mast device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible coupling means consists of a wire cable or of a carbon fibre cable. 
   
   
     13. The mast device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible coupling means is combined with signal leads for the signal transmission from and to the information means of the buoyant unit. 
   
   
     14. The mast device according to  claim 1 , wherein said guiding means is designed in the shape of a tubular shaft. 
   
   
     15. The mast device according to  claim 1  wherein said device is utilized in accordance with the following steps:
 providing said buoyant unit comprising said information means coupled to said submarine with said flexible coupling means;  
 releasing said buoyant unit from said mast when it is desired to communicate; and  
 letting out said flexible coupling means in said length that substantially corresponds to said observation diving depth.  
 
   
   
     16. A mast device for a submarine, comprising a guiding means, a vertically traversable mast guided thereon and information means which are provided at the mast upper end and which are in electrical interaction with the inside of the submarine for emitting and receiving information, wherein the information means are arranged in a buoyant unit held on the mast upper end without connection to said upper end of said mast and wherein the buoyant unit is fastened to a flexible coupling means which may be let out and retracted and which is of a length essentially of the maximum desired observation depth of the submarine, wherein the buoyant unit comprises an elongated float body standing vertically in the floating condition and further wherein the upper end of the float body comprises a platform which with a retracted unit doses the upper end of the mast, and a passage for extending and retracting the information means out of or into the inside of the mast.